When less is more - Sufficiency – Need and options for policy action

In this working paper we focus on the political dimension, which has been neglected up to now. Sufficiency policy encompasses political measures which are geared to environmentally sustainable consumption patterns and involve a change in benefit for a substantial share of the population. We demonstrate why sufficiency policy is necessary and what measures can be envisaged – not only to replace but also to complement efficiency and consistency measures. Further expanding the focus on sufficiency policy, the challenges, an outline of sufficiency policy, the necessary communication efforts, and the need for further research are also presented.